Improving Dairy and Livestock Farm Viability through Cohort-Led Value-Added Education
Project Director: Sarah Allen (sarah.allen@unh.edu)
Project Co-Director Katrine Klobucher (katrina.klobucher@unh.edu)
The University of New Hampshire
Award Amount: $59,213
Recently, interest in value-added production has increased as a way for producers to become less reliant on commercial market pricing. However, the jump to a value-added production system includes new challenges and risks. This project will utilize a cohort model to build the capacity of dairy and livestock producers to plan for and manage production, marketing, human, and financial risks associated with value-added production. Two cohorts of 10 producers each will be led by one “mentor” producer. These cohorts will engage in active learning methods including on-farm analysis at five out-of-state and two in-state locations, allowing producers to network with other participants while learning from outside businesses less likely to compete in the same market. On-farm experiences will focus on: market assessment, marketing and social media, product pricing, regulations, and animal and product production. Each mentor farm will host one joint meeting. These meetings will take place at the start and end of the project. State departments will attend the joint meetings to build relationships with participants, and the final meeting will be used to evaluate the completed project and future needs.
Creating Resilience Around Lease Non-Renewals and Terminations
Project Director: Rachel Armstrong (rachel@farmcommons.org)
Farm Commons
Award Amount: $73,241
As a result of this project, 360 farmers will be able to navigate the difficult circumstances of having a lease unexpectedly terminated or not renewed. Two each of print guides, podcasts, and webinars, will give farmers the resources they need to understand their options. Including how to effectively work with an attorney in pursuing their rights, we’ll prepare farmers to deal with this difficult circumstance while saving money and creating resilience. We will verify outcomes for 96 farmers across the Northeast region, witnessing all of the attendees of two webinars (48 each) gaining essential knowledge. Of those, we will see 60% of the webinar attendees (58 total) analyze/assess their individual situation as to consistency with the law and the legal options they could pursue with an attorney’s help. Finally, 29 farmers will implement a plan to increase their resilience around termination or non-renewal of a lease (primarily by writing/revising their lease). This project focuses on the legal risk of leases plus the human risk around stress and relationships. It fills an important hole in risk management education around leases that go sour. Many farmers serve the role of both lessee and lessor- this project will speak to both.
Improving Production Outcomes and Reducing Parasite Resistance in Small Ruminants in Southwest New York Using Targeted Deworming Strategies
Project Director: Amy Barkley (amb544@cornell.edu)
Cornell University
Award Amount: $73,538
One of the most challenging and financially impactful aspects of raising sheep and goats is internal parasite pressure. All flocks and herds are infected and managing these parasites through integrated pest management (IPM) including fecal egg count reduction testing (FECRT), FAMCACHA and 5-Point Check© scoring, strategic use of dewormers, and pasture rotation is essential for enterprise viability and will be taught to sheep and goat producers in Southwest New York. Ten farmers will go through FAMACHA training, one-on-one IPM reviews, and FECRT on their farms to determine the rate of parasite resistance, methods for reducing resistance, and review how their management changes from the testing and analyses will impact their bottom line. Ten mobile fecal egg count (FEC) workshops will be hosted across the 5-county region to teach farmers how to do this testing themselves on-farm, reaching 100 farmers and reducing the reliance on the already limited number of veterinarians in the region. Three FAMACHA and pasture management trainings will be hosted, reaching 36 farmers. It is anticipated that 75% of farmers going through these educational opportunities will use the information to make management changes on their farm to improve parasite outcomes.
Exploring H2A Farm Labor in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Project Director: Nathan Bruce (nsbruce@udel.edu)
Co-Project Director: Paul Goeringer (lgoering@umd.edu)
University of Delaware
Award Amount: $56,673
The national farm labor shortage issue has become more prevalent in the early 2020’s post Covid-19 pandemic for many different reasons. Finding effective and efficient farmworkers is a consistent challenge among agricultural producers not just in the Mid-Atlantic, but nationwide. There is an increasing interest among agricultural producers considering adopting H2A migrant farmworkers to fulfill labor needs. One of the most commonly requested educational outreach programs by agricultural producers in Delaware and Maryland is one that discusses the H2A program in depth. This project will serve as a multi-state extension outreach program that will give an overview on how the H2A program works and how to incorporate H2A workers within a farming business. Several areas that will be explored include in the program are: – Adjusting crop budgets for the real cost of H2A workers and overall cost of the program. – Legal aspects of the H2A process. – How to find foreign workers for H2A visas. – Producer checklist of steps for program participation. – Other considerations for the H2A program.
Creating Active-Learning, Grab n’ Go Pesticide Safety Education Modules and Toolkits
Project Director: Elizabeth Buck (emb273@cornell.edu)
Co-Project Director: Katelyn Miller (km753@cornell.edu)
Cornell University
Award Amount: $74,996
Formal pesticide training is not required to apply pesticides in private agricultural settings. Typical pesticide training courses are long, expensive, lecture-style series offered in few locations. Attendees are mostly larger, well-resourced, conventional farmers. Too many small, organic, and limited resource pesticide applicators are noticeably undertrained and are regularly exposing themselves to legal, regulatory, environmental, and production risks when using pesticides. In some communities, pesticide safety knowledge gaps are resulting in serious health risks for applicators and their families. We will develop a series of short, hands-on, active-learning lesson plans and toolkits to teach pesticide safety and risk reduction practices to undertrained applicators in the Finger Lakes and western NY and northwest PA. These Grab n’Go lesson plans will be taught as stand-alone topics at 10 long-established annual grower meetings. The lesson plans will be designed to stacked together to create workshop-length modules around four themes: Personal Protective Equipment, Non-applicator & Environmental Safety, Math and Mixing, and Calibration & Sprayer Troubleshooting. We will teach each themed workshop twice. We anticipate reaching 235 people. 200 growers will increase understanding of pesticide safety practices, and at least 100 applicators will adopt new practices that reduce their health, legal, environmental, regulatory, or production risks.
Resilience in a Tight Labor Market: Farm Manager Training to Build a Skilled, Engaged, and Committed Crew
Project Director: Margaret Christie (margaret@buylocalfood.org)
Co-Project Director: Kristen Wilmer (kristen@buylocalfood.org)
CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture)
Award Amount: $74,912
This project will provide farm managers at diversified specialty crop farms in Massachusetts with practical employee management and leadership training, enabling farms to reduce human risk by supporting better employee recruitment and retention in a competitive labor market. Strong employee management skills are ever more critical to building a skilled, engaged, and committed farm team. And a productive, consistent workforce is in turn essential for enabling farms to mitigate threats arising from inflation, rising labor costs, and weather extremes. We will present a seven-workshop series addressing key topics relating to employee motivation and retention, feedback, communication, workplace safety, and conflict resolution. In addition to teaching creative, practical, and effective employee management strategies, this project will provide farmers with a structured environment in which to practice the strategies, farmer-tofarmer opportunities for sharing insights and learning, and one-one-one support to implement improvements. One hundred seventy-five farmers will attend workshops or receive one-on-one support. Of these, 100 farmers will report gaining substantial knowledge about effective employee management strategies and 75 will use this knowledge to develop new strategies. By the end of the project, 55 farmers will verify that they have implemented new employee management strategies that mitigate risk and improve farm viability.
Dusts and Pests: Risk Management of Neonicotinoid Treated Seeds
Project Director: Heather Darby (heather.darby@uvm.edu)
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College
Award Amount: $74,889
This project will address the risk management area of production risk with a focus on the topic area of transition to new production systems. As farmers are faced with increased climate, environment, and financial risks on their farms, new practices need to be adopted to keep their businesses viable. In 2024, Vermont passed H.706, effectively phasing out neonicotinoid use over a 5-year period. Neonicotinoids are a non-selective and widely used insecticide meaning that they are also toxic to beneficial insects like pollinators and can have other negative impacts on the environment. Corn growers in Vermont have relied on neonicotinoid seed treatments to minimize risks of crop loss to early season soil pests such as seed corn maggot and wireworms. The increasingly erratic and adverse climate are making these pests even more difficult to manage. This project will develop and deliver strategies to minimize environmental, economic and production risks to these early season corn pests. Delivery methods will include two workshops, on-farm demonstration, and development of a guide to managing early season corn pests. As a result, 350 Vermont farmers will better understand best practices to manage these pests, and 75 will implement these practices to manage their production and financial risks.
Normalizing Farm Financials to Assess Risks and Evaluate Opportunities
Project Director: Ryan Dennett
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Award Amount: $73,939
Our proposal strives to normalize farm financials, meaning we aim to build knowledge and skills for farmers to have confidence in reaching into their own financial records but also reach out to each other to gain deeper perspectives on the opportunities and risks when considering financial or marketing decisions. MOFGA has successfully created a culture of peer-to-peer consulting on production issues among our farmers, and this proposal will create a similar culture regarding financial questions and comprehension. To do this, we will host 2 webinars: a farmer-led review of bookkeeping software and a presentation on using spreadsheets to assess risks and opportunities; 1 workshop: a farmer-led open book assessment where farm financials are collectively shared and discussed; 1 full-day intensive with a leading farm financial advisor to develop and deepen understanding of core farm financials; and 1 wholesale marketing forum with a leading marketing consultant. There will be follow-up with individual technical assistance for attendees of most sessions, along with a hosted discussion for a cohort of wholesale marketing farms. This will increase 40 Maine farmers’ ability to access and use financial recordkeeping for the long-term viability of their farms and enable 10 farmers to better access regional wholesale markets.
Networks to Reduce Risk: Annie’s Project Builds Viable Farms in Urban and Rural NJ
Project Director: Madeline Flahive DiNardo (flahive@njaes.rutgers.edu)
Co-Project Director: Claudia Gil Arroyo (claudia.gilarroyo@rutgers.edu)
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Award Amount: $68,377
How can the diverse needs of new and experienced farmers in New Jersey be met? New farmers in urban areas must be resourceful in finding land and producing and marketing crops that will generate income. Farm middle management employees throughout the state are often responsible for making financial decisions that affect the current financial stability of the farm and its future. Building a network of new and experienced farmers and professional agencies and businesses that provide risk management support is the goal of this project. Modeled after successful Annie’s Project Women’s Farm Financial Management programs, the project will feature field trips to sites where risk management strategies will be demonstrated such as value-added product creation and farm safety techniques. Five online workshops, each focused-on risk management tactics identified by producers, will be offered via a Canvas Course site. The course will feature live zoom lectures by industry and government agency professionals; recordings of the lectures, including captioning in Spanish; resource materials, assignments, evaluation tools and discussion groups to facilitate networking.
Farm Legacy: Navigating Human Risk in Succession
Project Director: Leslie Forstadt (leslie.forstadt@maine.edu)
Co-Project Director: Karen Groat (kgmediations@gmail.com)
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Award Amount: $74,031
Farm Legacy: Navigating Human Risk in Succession addresses farm vitality and viability by helping farmers navigate barriers to retirement and/or succession planning. Legacy planning is deeply personal and for many people, even with tools and resources to plan, the process of implementation itself becomes difficult. Barriers to implementation can include: having difficult conversations, readiness for change, handling uncertainty, navigating family tension, and understanding generational stressors. “Farm Legacy” will provide these opportunities: 1. Two cohort-based, multi-session groups over a six-month period will provide facilitated peer-to-peer support for 20 land or sea farmers. One will be in-person and one online. 2. Individualized planning support for up to 8 Northeast land and sea farms for up to 20 members of farm teams. These supports will provide space to address personal barriers, to learn about communication plans, to practice skill building, goal planning, and peer-to-peer conversations. Referrals to service providers will help address specific financial, mental health, and strategic decision-making concerns. Expected outcomes include: creation of a timeline with action steps to enhance planning and decision making, implementation of at least one action step, use of communications tools, increased confidence to approach “difficult” conversations about a retirement or succession plan.
Estate and Succession Planning in Maryland: Developing Resources to Help a New Generation
Project Director: Paul Goeringer (lgoering@umd.edu)
Co-Project Director: Jesse Ketterman (jkettermn@umd.edu)
University of Maryland, College Park
Award Amount: $75,000
Extension has a history of providing workshops on retirement and farm succession planning. However, these workshops’ practicality is limited to addressing family communication difficulties. We would host two workshops (1 on the Eastern Shore and the other on the Western side) in central locations. These workshops focus on communications, insurance, retirement, and succession/estate planning. To increase the likelihood of retaining and implementing the knowledge gained during workshops, participants will be allowed to have one-on-one coaching regarding succession and estate planning with a certified Farm Transition Coordinator. This one on-one coaching was often requested during our past workshops to get farm families started. We would update existing succession and estate planning resources to include the latest legal changes based on current tax law provisions. Finally, we would host a series of webinars covering the topics, recording and posting the sessions online. Webinar participants would also be eligible for one-on-one coaching, but only if they are located in Maryland. The proposed project would provide participants with the necessary tools to begin the succession planning process. Still, the one-on-one coaching will assist in getting more of them to develop succession plans. With this program, we aim to reach 80 participants.
Supporting Safe and Viable Multilingual Dairy Farms through Language Learning and Workplace Norms Training
Project Director: Esbey Hamilton (esbey.hamilton@uvm.edu)
Co-Project Director: Sara Riegler (sara.riegler@uvm.edu)
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College
Award Amount: $74,439
This project will address the area of human risk through addressing language and information barriers between employers and employees on Vermont dairy farms. Specifically, we will address and improve farmworkers’ English language communication skills and farmworkers’ understanding of the norms of the US agricultural workplace, including taxes, hiring paperwork, payroll, timesheets, and communication norms. Courses will be designed and delivered on farms by bilingual (English/Spanish) UVM Extension staff, building off of the existing relationships we have with farmworker students in our online English program. A minimum of 18 on-farm classes will be delivered on the dairy farms in the state where the highest concentrations of our students live and work and/or where employers have expressed interest in hosting a risk management class or training for their employees. As a result of participation in the classes, the Farmworker Education Hub will deepen our relationships with dairy farm owners, farmworkers will report a) improved English language communication skills and b) improved understanding of workplace norms in the US, while farm owners and/or managers will report a) improved on farm communication and b) greater ease and understanding among employees regarding workplace norms.
Building Year Round Resilience
Project Director: Suzy Hodgson (suzy.hodgson@uvm.edu)
UVM Ext. Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Award Amount: $ 73,849
Variable extreme weather conditions continued in 2024 with Vermont experiencing floods in summer but abnormally dry/drought conditions in fall. The climate-induced weather underscores the imperative of mitigating impacts and strengthening farms’ resilience year-round. Forged on the success of past NERME workshops, this proposal develops and delivers a “Building Resilience Year Round” educational program reaching 400 small and beginning producers, providing knowledge and hands-on tools and immersive experience to implement practices which reduce stress on crops and livestock year-round, while improving productivity and financial viability with perennials. At least 150 producers will increase their knowledge of implementing perennial practices to reduce/adapt to climate/weather risks to reach their goals. 105 producers will develop designs and 50 will apply site assessment tools for implementing a practice to not only reduce risks to production, marketing, and finances but to also improve year-round viability. With our collaborators, UVM Extension will develop and deliver hands-on in-field workshops, webinar panel, and full-day planting intensive. Supplemented with site-assessment tools and project briefs with enterprise budgets, our program helps limited resource producers implement practices with perennials in forest farming and silvopasture. · The risk management outcomes are risk reduction and increased productivity by using perennials for better cash/work flow year-round.
Crop Load Management: Blossom Thinning for Mitigating Climate Risks in Tree Fruit Orchards
Project Director: Shanthanu Krishna Kumar (szk6480@psu.edu)
Co-Director: Robert Pollock (rcp3@psu.edu)
The Pennsylvania State University
Award Amount: $53,364
Crop load management in tree fruit is critical for achieving high-quality and consistent yields. In the Northeast, climate change is increasing the risk of unseasonable spring weather, complicating crop load management for tree fruit. Effective crop load management depends on sunny days with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. Cooler temperatures reduce the effectiveness of thinning chemicals, while hotter temperatures make them overly effective, leading to excessive fruit removal. With only one or two windows for chemical fruitlet thinning, growers are highly dependent on favorable climatic conditions, as demonstrated by the challenges faced in 2023. Through our research efforts, we have identified blossom thinning as a technique that offers growers additional opportunities to manage crop load to optimal levels. This extension project aims to educate and empower growers to adopt blossom thinning as a strategy to mitigate climate-related risks and enhance crop resilience. We plan to host a series of spring orchard meetings at grower orchards, where field demonstration plots will be established. These meetings will provide growers with practical knowledge of the practice, economic evidence outlining its benefits, and foster peer support to encourage adoption.
Climate Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness for the Catskills-Hudson Valley Region
Project Director: Melinda Meddaugh (mm2592@cornell.edu)
Cornell Cooper Extension Sullivan County
Award Amount: $75,000
The project will deliver educational and technical assistance on production and human risk, specifically in the risk management areas of environmental and weather-related risks and diversification. Staff will deliver educational outreach and technical assistance to 200 farmers, over 2,000 indirect contacts and twenty educational workshops through online webinars, in person workshops and on-farm trainings, and one-one-one technical assistance on topics such as water management, silvopasture development, soil health, season extension, climate resilient site planning, invasive plants and insects, adapting to changing growing seasons, livestock heat stress, and emergency management planning. The target audiences are beginner, socially disadvantaged, veteran farmers and traditional commercial farmers in the Catskills-Hudson Valley Region of New York State. The risk management outcomes producers are expected to achieve through participation in the project are increased knowledge and implementation of the following 1) soil practices, season extension, water management and irrigation capacity 2) integrated pest management on farms 3) livestock heat stress strategies 4) an increase in the number of farmers who have developed climate resiliency and emergency management plans for their farms, 5) and an increase in the number of first responders who can assist with weather and environmental events on farms.
Reducing Human and Legal Risks with Progressive Employee Discipline Systems on New York Fruit Farms
Project Director: Bonalyn Nelsen (bjn2@cornell.edu)
Cornell University
Award Amount: $40,508
This project addresses human and legal risks faced by New York State commercial fruit growers lacking formal systems for employee discipline. State and federal Departments of Labor and the New York State Employment Relations Act stipulate employers must demonstrate that farmworkers who are disciplined, terminated for cause and/or not rehired (1) clearly understood rules and performance standards and (2) were given multiple opportunities to correct their work performance via progressive discipline procedures. In the context of H-2A farm audits and unfair labor practice investigations, employers are required to produce evidence of compliance, including employee handbooks, letters of warning, and termination notices. Without evidence employers are subject to financial liabilities and mandatory rehiring—even if an employee’s termination was justified. This program consists of nine online workshops that will train 63 farmers to develop and use progressive employee discipline on their farm. Participants will learn about employee discipline systems and use customizable templates, forms, and instruction to develop employee handbooks and progressive discipline procedures for their farm. Instruction will be given on how to implement the system when disciplining farm workers, resulting in labor management practices that are fair, transparent, and legally compliant, thereby reducing labor and human risks.
Addressing Farmer Mental Health Risks Impacting Productivity
Project Director: Leanne Porter (leannep@farmfirst.org)
Farm First
Award Amount: $66,381
This project addresses human risks in agriculture, specifically focusing on farmer mental health, stress, and communication. Through six training sessions offered by a mental health professional, at least sixty farmers will understand and implement stress management strategies, understand mental health resources available to them, and implement these strategies or resource connections, to reach out to Farm First for support, and encourage other farmers to so the same. Four of the six trainings will be hosted on farms, by a members of Farm First’s Farmer Peer Network, comprised of 15 farmers across the state of Vermont who have been trained in listening skills, problem-solving and resiliency-building, de-escalation, confidentiality, and farm resources. All have volunteered to actively help other farmers in need of support. Our farm peers have become central figures in destigmatizing mental health maintenance among farmers and frequently help farmers connect with Farm First mental health resources. The other two trainings will be offered remotely to ensure that farmers in all corners of the state, including those without readily available transportation or the ability to leave their farms, can attend. Each training session will include discussion with local farmers both before and after the training to enhance buy-in and understanding.
Intensive Biosecurity Planning Or Producer & Industry Professionals
Project Director: Hannah Walters (hwalters@pabeef.org)
Co-Project Director: Michelle Kirk (mkirk.cbe@gmail.com)
PA Beef Council
Award Amount: $74,996
The Intensive Biosecurity Planning Workshops will cater to cattle producers, veterinarians, and veterinary students in Pennsylvania and nearby states in the Northeast. Up to eight hands-on workshops will educate participants about the significance of developing and executing biosecurity plans. Biosecurity aims to prevent disease entry and spread within operations, and it is essential to the National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program and the National FARM Program. The National Dairy FARM Program offers resources to U.S. dairy farmers and cooperatives, including science-based standards and best management practices. BQA provides beef producers with information on combining good husbandry practices with scientific knowledge to ensure optimal management. Creating comprehensive biosecurity plans is crucial for maintaining business operations during disease challenges, whether from common pathogens or foreign outbreaks. These plans enable producers to minimize production and financial risks and ensure continuity, especially during disease events. The workshops will encompass diverse operations, including beef, dairy, pork, and poultry. Veterinarians and students will gain essential knowledge on biosecurity to assist clients with plan development and annual reviews. Industry professionals, including representatives from key organizations, will guide producers in creating customized biosecurity strategies for their operations.
Reducing Risk to New Farmers and Farm Workers through Innovative Tractor and Equipment Safety Training
Project Director: Rachel White (rachel@maine.edu)
Co-Project Director: Caragh Fitzgerald (cfitzgerald@maine.edu)
University of Maine System
Award Amount: $67,074
Farming is one of the most dangerous industries, in terms of fatal and non-fatal accidents, and the majority of accidents involve vehicles, particularly tractors (Department of Labor). This project will expand and enhance tractor safety training across Maine through the development of innovative, immersive training materials, an online tractor safety digital badge program, and programs for women and female-identifying farmers and farm workers. The project is designed for farmers, particularly new farmers, as well as farm workers. It will primarily reduce human risk on the farm by protecting health and increasing safety. Secondarily, the project will reduce production risk by reducing lost time and delayed or missed field activities due to injury or accidents. A minimum of 160 farmers and farm workers will increase their tractor safety knowledge and skills, including 30 youth (during at least two 5-week trainings), 20 adults achieving digital badges, and 40 participants in at least two in-person trainings. An additional 60 will be exposed to the novel educational techniques through recruiting efforts.
The Beginning Farmer Training Program and Field Lab of Western NY
Project Director: Richard Woodbridge (rgw74@cornell.edu)
Co-Project Director: Amanda Henning (app27@cornell.edu)
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County
Award Amount: $67,937
The Beginning Farmer Training Program (BFTP) at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County addresses risk management for beginning and aspiring farmers lacking experience and resources. BFTP offers hands-on training in climate-smart, small-scale farming, covering the operational and business risks of farm viability, leadership, marketing, diversification, legal compliance and financial competence. The hybrid model uses classroom instruction, field practice, and farm tours, allowing participants to apply knowledge and skills immediately. Individualized post-program support is also available. BFTP serves new and aspiring market vegetable farmers across eight Western New York counties who face barriers like limited land access and experience. Past participants are diverse, with 68% female/non-binary, 8% African American, 10% veterans and 16% urban farmers. This comprehensive, experiential program includes 18 expert-led lectures, 20 weeks of hands-on Field Lab work with 50 crop varieties, three farm tours, and a comprehensive reference binder. Expected outcomes include increased knowledge of climate resilient techniques, improved access to farm viability resources, and reduced marketing, legal, and financial risks, preparing graduates to start or join successful market farming operations. Over two years, 28 farmers are expected to achieve these outcomes, with mentorship and support extended to an additional 61 past participants in the region.
2025 Exploratory Projects
Measuring Financial and Business Results on Your Dairy Farm
Project Director: Joanna Lidback (joanna@adkmanagement.net)
Adirondack Management Services, LLC
Award Amount: $8,882
The Vermont Dairy Benchmark is a study that offers participants a comprehensive review of financial and select operational results while comparing to a benchmark of peer Vermont dairy farms. It includes a customized report, an executive summary review of results, and a chance to network with other participants and industry professionals at a workshop designed to review outcomes and trends as well as a peer group for further interaction throughout the year on related topics. The Vermont summary will be created using the Dairy Farm Business Summary, a tool created and developed by Pro-Dairy at Cornell University. It is used for financial analysis and benchmarking. When used along with a business management advisor and also a network of peers, it can be a powerful tool to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Further, it can be used to track results in response to changes implemented by the dairy producer.
Climate Stress and Grief: Building Resilience with NH Farmers
Project Director: Olivia Saunders (olivia.saunders@unh.edu)
Co-Project Director: Chelsea Hill (cbh5097@psu.edu)
University of New Hampshire
Award Amount: $9,942
This project will address human risks associated with farming and mental health. Specifically, we will train farmers in understanding how climate grief and stress can impact mental health. We expect producers to demonstrate a greater understanding of climate stress and grief, a greater understanding of how they affect farmers differently than the general population, and develop strategies for coping with climate stress and grief. Our target audience is farmers across New Hampshire and the Northeast. Learning will occur through the activities of this program, namely, a three part online climate cafe and the creation and dissemination of an Extension publication. Also included will be a focus group with farmers and agriculture service providers to gather input on strategies to include climate grief into our work in order to better serve farmers dealing with climate emergencies (eg flooding, drought and associated crop losses.) We will use a strengths-based, trauma-informed curriculum in our presentation, and provide a detailed survey for participants to determine whether or not outcomes were met. Survey questions will also inform us about what additional education and resources would support farmers in managing human risks associated with climate stress and grief, which may be expanded into a larger project.
Financial Management for Farm Families
Project Director: Catherine Sorenson (cjrsoren@umd.edu)
Co-Project Director: Jesse Ketterman (jketterm@umd.edu)
University of Maryland
Award Amount: $9,965
In 2021, Extension personnel from six states interviewed farmers and farm service providers about farm and household finances and found that farm families experience challenges in recordkeeping and managing the interconnectedness of their family and farm business finances to meet goals. Current educational resources do not address these intersected challenges. As such, the educators adapted a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) resource, with permission, for farm audiences. The new resource, called the Farm Family Finance Toolkit (FFFT), provides a series of farmer friendly tools that will increase knowledge of the risks of intermingling business and family finances, develop plans for managing business and family finances, and increase their intention to save money for unexpected expenses, manage debt, and plan for managing both business and family finances that meet goals. This toolkit speaks to reducing business and household financial risks and human risk associated with financial wellbeing especially as the interconnectedness poses a risk to meeting cash-flow needs, absorbing short term financial shocks and working toward longer-term financial goals. Members of small family farms in Delaware and Maryland will be the project participants who will help the team pilot test the FFFT. Revised versions will be shared widely.
